US3372092A - Nuclear reactor - Google Patents

Nuclear reactor Download PDF

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Publication number
US3372092A
US3372092A US473668A US47366865A US3372092A US 3372092 A US3372092 A US 3372092A US 473668 A US473668 A US 473668A US 47366865 A US47366865 A US 47366865A US 3372092 A US3372092 A US 3372092A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
water
space
reactor
steam
shroud
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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US473668A
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English (en)
Inventor
Margen Peter Heinrich Erwin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Studsvik Energiteknik AB
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Studsvik Energiteknik AB
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C13/00—Pressure vessels; Containment vessels; Containment in general
    • G21C13/02—Details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C1/00—Reactor types
    • G21C1/04—Thermal reactors ; Epithermal reactors
    • G21C1/06—Heterogeneous reactors, i.e. in which fuel and moderator are separated
    • G21C1/08—Heterogeneous reactors, i.e. in which fuel and moderator are separated moderator being highly pressurised, e.g. boiling water reactor, integral super-heat reactor, pressurised water reactor
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C11/00—Shielding structurally associated with the reactor
    • G21C11/08—Thermal shields; Thermal linings, i.e. for dissipating heat from gamma radiation which would otherwise heat an outer biological shield ; Thermal insulation
    • G21C11/083—Thermal shields; Thermal linings, i.e. for dissipating heat from gamma radiation which would otherwise heat an outer biological shield ; Thermal insulation consisting of one or more metallic layers
    • G21C11/085—Thermal shields; Thermal linings, i.e. for dissipating heat from gamma radiation which would otherwise heat an outer biological shield ; Thermal insulation consisting of one or more metallic layers consisting exclusively of several metallic layers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C11/00—Shielding structurally associated with the reactor
    • G21C11/08—Thermal shields; Thermal linings, i.e. for dissipating heat from gamma radiation which would otherwise heat an outer biological shield ; Thermal insulation
    • G21C11/088—Thermal shields; Thermal linings, i.e. for dissipating heat from gamma radiation which would otherwise heat an outer biological shield ; Thermal insulation consisting of a stagnant or a circulating fluid
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Definitions

  • the thermal insulation between the cold inner steel lining of the concrete and the hot coolant gas is often provided by thin layers of steel foil, wire mesh or other known devices which restrict the circulation of the coolant gas in a narrow layer near the lining, thus creating stagnant layers of the coolant gas as an insulation.
  • This form of insulation cannot be used for the steam space of heavy water reactors of the boiling or pressurized water type, as the steam would condense on the comparatively cold lining.
  • porous concrete for instance a porous pumice concrete
  • This solution could also be used for the boiling or pressurized water reactors if porous concrete and flexible linings suitable for the very high pressures in such reactors were available. Materials which meet these requirements are not, however, at present available.
  • the invention aims at eliminating the inconveniences mentioned above, and is concerned with providing a gas insulation in a water-cooled nuclear reactor without com plicated mechanical means and without using an expensive, extra steel vessel.
  • the nuclear reactor of the invention is characterized in that it comprises a pressure vessel, 2. water space in the bottom of the pressure vessel, a steam space in the top of the pressure vessel, a com paratively thin-walled shroud surrounding the steam space, a heat insulating gas space between the shroud and the Wall of the pressure vessel, and a water seal for separating the steam from the heat-insulating gas.
  • the shroud can be arranged so as to surround the steam space only. It is preferably arranged so as to surround the space for the cooling water as well as the space for steam.
  • FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a reactor embodying concepts of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the bottom part, only, of a modified form of reactor structure illustrating a further feature of the invention.
  • the reactor illustrated in FIG. 1 contains a pressure vessel 11 consisting of pre-stressed concrete.
  • the inside of the pressure vessel is covered by a steel lining 12 to which are welded tubes 13 for cooling water, for keeping the concrete at a temperature below C.
  • the pressure vessel contains a tank, outlined at 10 in this figure by dot-and-dash line, which defines the reactor core.
  • the core contains a fissile fuel in a plurality of vertical tubes 1, only one of said tubes being illustrated for the sake of simplicity.
  • Said tubes have separators 2 at their tops for separating steam and water. Feed water is supplied to the reactor through a conduit 9.
  • a comparatively thin-walled shroud 14 of sheet steel surrounds the steam space 6 so as to define between the lining 12 and the shroud 14 a comparatively narrow insulating space 29.
  • the top of the shroud is welded at 31) to the lining 12.
  • the lower portion of the shroud 14 has a portion 16 of a reduced diameter, extending below the normal water surface 3 in the reactor.
  • a corresponding thin-walled shroud 15 surrounds the lower, water-filled portion of the reactor so as to define with the lining 12 an insulating space 31.
  • the lower portion of the shroud 15 is welded to the portion of the lining 12 covering the bottom of the pressure vessel.
  • the top portion of the shroud 15 overlaps and is spaced from the reduced lower portion 16 of the shroud 14, and the resulting space S between said two overlapping portions contains two bafile plates 19 and 20, one of which is secured as an outwardly extending flange to the outer surface of the lower portion 16 of shroud 14 while the other of which is secured as an inwardly extending flange to the inner surface of the confronting top portion of shroud 15.
  • a conduit 18 for the supply of water opens between the bafile plates 19 and 20, and a conduit 21 for the Withdrawal of water opens above the baflle plate 20, said conduits having the purpose to maintain a predetermined height of water in space S.
  • the insulating space 31, 29 is filled with a gas, preferably nitrogen, which is supplied through a tube 22.
  • Said space contains a plurality of thin steel foils 32 so as to restrict the circulation of the gas. Water that might have condensed in the space 31 is withdrawn through a tube 23.
  • the bottom of the pressure vessel has a different insulation, as a plurality of tubes extend through said bottom.
  • a metal wire mesh 24 or the like is situated on the bottom so as to produce a layer of stagnant water producing a satisfactory insulation.
  • the top wall of the reactor contains an opening 28 through which there extends, in known manner, a conventional manipulator 25 for removing used fuel elements from the reactor and for inserting new fuel ele- 'ments by way of tube 26.
  • the space S between the overlapping portions of the shrouds 14 and 15 forms together with the baffle plates 19 and 20, a water seal which operates in the following manner.
  • the pressure in the reactor varies in the normal way the level of the water surface 17 in the water seal will vary a little.
  • the width of the water seal should preferably be so large as to make this variation small.
  • the area of the water surface 17 should preferably be 3-10% of the area of the water surface 3. If the pressure were to increase in an abnormal way the water surface 3 would sink below the edge of the shroud portion 16, resulting in steam entering the insulation space 29, 31. If the pressure decreased in an abnormal way the water surface 17 would sink below the edge of the shroud portion 16, resulting in gas passing from the insulation space 29, 31 into the steam space 6. In either abnormal pressure condition, which occurs only on rare occasions, the pressure will be equalized on both sides of the shrouds 14 and 15, and consequently the shrouds may be thin-walled.
  • the gas in the insulation space 29, 31 cannot be prevented from dissolving in the water in the water seal in space S.
  • This gas-containing water should be prevented from mixing with the reactor water, as by supplying gas-free water through the conduit 18 while withdrawing the gas-containing water through the conduit 21.
  • the added gas-free Water should preferably be cold, for reducing evaporation from the water surface 17.
  • the water seal is situated at a level corresponding to the surface of the normal water level in the reactor, thus ensuring that the water seal is constantly filled with water, unless the pressure is abnormally changed.
  • the water seal can be situated at another place in the reactor, provided it is ensured that there is always water in the water seal. An embodiment of this latter concept is illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 2 merely illustrates the lower portion of a reactor.
  • the reference characters of FIG. 1 have been used for corresponding parts so far as possible.
  • the tank defining the reactor core is denoted 10.
  • This tank will be referred to below as moderator tank, the water in the tank serving as moderator.
  • the tank 10 is surrounded by a second tank 36 which latter will be referred to as a water tank.
  • This water tank has openings 45 in the topportion of its side wall, and carries a plate 44 which supports the upper end of the boiler elements 1.
  • the thin-walled shroud 14, which surrounds the upper portion of the reactor of FIG. 1, is extended in the reactor of FIG. 2 to reach nearly to the bottom of the reactor.
  • a collar 38, spaced from the confronting lower portion of shroud 14, is fastened to the bottom of the reactor.
  • Said collar in combination with the lower edge of the shroud 14, forms a space occupied by an annular water seal 37 separating the steam in the space 39 from the gas in the space between the throud 14 and the reactor wall 12. While flowing downward through the space 39 a small quantity of steam will condense on the shroud 14, and the condensed water will flow down into the water seal.
  • water is supplied through a conduit 41. The excess of water is drained off through a conduit 42.
  • the change of water in the water seal is also a safety measure against gas being transported from the insulation space to the steam space by being dissolved in the water in the water seal, as described hereinabove with reference to the corresponding means illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • a nuclear reactor comprising a pressure vessel, a water space in the bottom of the pressure vessel, a reactive core Within said water space, said reactor core containing fissile fuel to be cooled by water in said water space, a steam space in the top of the pressure vessel, a thin-walled shroud surrounding the steam space and spaced from the wall of the vessel to provide a relatively narrow annular insulating space for a heat-insulating gas in said insulating space between the shroud and the wall of the pressure vessel, said shroud being provided with a water seal means for separating steam from said insulating space.
  • said water seal means comprises an annular container for a body of sealing water, and wherein the bottom edge of the first shroud portion and the top edge of the second shroud portion are so shaped as to form said annular container part of said water seal means.
  • a nuclear reactor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reactor contains a conduit for suppying water to the water seal means and a conduit for withdrawing water from the water seal means whereby to maintain a predetermined height of water in said water seal means.
  • a nuclear reactor is claimed in claim 9, wherein 211 4 1963 Great B i i said conduit means is connected to a source of cold water. 10 L. DEWAYNE RUTLEDGE, Primary Examiner.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Structure Of Emergency Protection For Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
US473668A 1965-03-12 1965-07-21 Nuclear reactor Expired - Lifetime US3372092A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE03285/65A SE366139B (fr) 1965-03-12 1965-03-12

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3372092A true US3372092A (en) 1968-03-05

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US473668A Expired - Lifetime US3372092A (en) 1965-03-12 1965-07-21 Nuclear reactor

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US3372092A (fr)
DE (1) DE1489645C3 (fr)
GB (1) GB1105559A (fr)
SE (1) SE366139B (fr)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3619364A (en) * 1967-04-12 1971-11-09 Atomenergi Ab Nuclear reactor in which the coolant is boiling light water
US3888730A (en) * 1968-02-23 1975-06-10 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Nuclear reactors
US3988202A (en) * 1973-03-30 1976-10-26 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Nuclear reactor of pressurized liquid coolant type
US4021301A (en) * 1973-01-31 1977-05-03 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Nuclear reactor installation
US4061534A (en) * 1969-02-17 1977-12-06 United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Nuclear reactors
US4081322A (en) * 1975-06-19 1978-03-28 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Device for thermal insulation of a prestressed concrete vessel which affords resistance to the pressure of a vaporizable fluid contained in said vessel
US4146423A (en) * 1976-12-07 1979-03-27 Aktiebolaget Atomenergi Nuclear reactor
US4292134A (en) * 1978-03-06 1981-09-29 Ab Asea Atom Biological shield for insulating pressure vessels
US4587086A (en) * 1981-04-03 1986-05-06 Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft Nuclear reactor
US4752439A (en) * 1981-10-22 1988-06-21 Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau Gmbh Safety enclosure cooling system for gas cooled high temperature reactors
US4756872A (en) * 1983-09-29 1988-07-12 Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau Gmbh Nuclear power station for a gas-cooled high temperature pebble bed reactor
US4788031A (en) * 1986-02-01 1988-11-29 Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau Gmbh Concrete reactor pressure vessel for a gas cooled nuclear reactor of low capacity
US4897240A (en) * 1986-06-02 1990-01-30 Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute Nuclear reactor

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2219686B (en) * 1988-06-13 1993-01-06 Rolls Royce & Ass Water cooled nuclear reactors
CN109961857B (zh) * 2017-12-25 2024-02-09 核工业西南物理研究院 适用于屏蔽带电冷却水管的双层屏蔽层结构

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3085959A (en) * 1959-01-02 1963-04-16 Gen Electric Liquid moderated vapor superheat reactor
GB924211A (en) * 1958-08-12 1963-04-24 Siemens Ag Improvements in or relating to nuclear reactors
US3098023A (en) * 1958-09-15 1963-07-16 Babcock & Wilcox Co Nuclear reactor containment system
US3205145A (en) * 1962-06-06 1965-09-07 Atomenergi Ab Nuclear reactor

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB924211A (en) * 1958-08-12 1963-04-24 Siemens Ag Improvements in or relating to nuclear reactors
US3098023A (en) * 1958-09-15 1963-07-16 Babcock & Wilcox Co Nuclear reactor containment system
US3085959A (en) * 1959-01-02 1963-04-16 Gen Electric Liquid moderated vapor superheat reactor
US3205145A (en) * 1962-06-06 1965-09-07 Atomenergi Ab Nuclear reactor

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3619364A (en) * 1967-04-12 1971-11-09 Atomenergi Ab Nuclear reactor in which the coolant is boiling light water
US3888730A (en) * 1968-02-23 1975-06-10 Atomic Energy Authority Uk Nuclear reactors
US4061534A (en) * 1969-02-17 1977-12-06 United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Nuclear reactors
US4021301A (en) * 1973-01-31 1977-05-03 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Nuclear reactor installation
US3988202A (en) * 1973-03-30 1976-10-26 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Nuclear reactor of pressurized liquid coolant type
US4081322A (en) * 1975-06-19 1978-03-28 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Device for thermal insulation of a prestressed concrete vessel which affords resistance to the pressure of a vaporizable fluid contained in said vessel
US4146423A (en) * 1976-12-07 1979-03-27 Aktiebolaget Atomenergi Nuclear reactor
US4292134A (en) * 1978-03-06 1981-09-29 Ab Asea Atom Biological shield for insulating pressure vessels
US4587086A (en) * 1981-04-03 1986-05-06 Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft Nuclear reactor
US4752439A (en) * 1981-10-22 1988-06-21 Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau Gmbh Safety enclosure cooling system for gas cooled high temperature reactors
US4756872A (en) * 1983-09-29 1988-07-12 Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau Gmbh Nuclear power station for a gas-cooled high temperature pebble bed reactor
US4788031A (en) * 1986-02-01 1988-11-29 Hochtemperatur-Reaktorbau Gmbh Concrete reactor pressure vessel for a gas cooled nuclear reactor of low capacity
US4897240A (en) * 1986-06-02 1990-01-30 Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute Nuclear reactor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1105559A (en) 1968-03-06
DE1489645C3 (de) 1974-12-19
DE1489645B2 (de) 1974-05-02
SE366139B (fr) 1974-04-08
DE1489645A1 (de) 1970-06-11

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